Three Eastern Washington men's basketball seniors, Felix Von Hofe, Julian Harrell and Jacob Wiley were all honored last Saturday prior to the Eagles' final home game versus Idaho State.
The Eastern Washington men's basketball team did their homework well the past two weeks and as result are sitting in good shape in the Big Sky Conference with one week remaining.
The Eagles swept a three-game home stand with wins of 89-77 versus Idaho State, Feb. 25, 82-72 over Weber State, Feb. 23 and on Feb. 17 topped Idaho 77-67.
Eastern improved to 20-9 overall and 12-4 in the Big Sky Conference. The Eagles are a game behind North Dakota (13-3), a game ahead of Weber State (11-5) and two games ahead of Idaho and Montana State (10-6).
Ahead lies one of the most demanding road trips, geography-wise at least, with games at Southern Utah, tonight, March 2, and Northern Arizona on Saturday March 4. The trip requires multiple bus trips and plane connections.
"We have work to do," Eastern head coach Jim Hayford said. "At the same time, we are playing our best basketball and want to continue improving as a team."
Southern Utah and Northern Arizona enter this week's games a combined 8-24 in the Big Sky and 13-45 overall. The Thunderbirds are 3-13 and 5-24, and lost at EWU 83-68 on Jan. 21. The Lumberjacks host Idaho before playing EWU, and enter action this week 5-11 and 8-21. Northern Arizona lost at EWU 84-62 on Jan. 19.
Fans can listen to the games on 700-AM ESPN and via the web at http://www.700espn.com. Pre-game coverage starts a half-hour prior to tipoff. All Big Sky games will also be broadcast via http://www.watchbigsky.com.
A sweep this week and the Eagles would finish at least as the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Big Sky Conference Tournament March 7-11 in Reno, Nev. If that was to occur and North Dakota were to stumble at home to Sacramento State and Portland State, the Eagles would earn sole possession of the regular season league title. If both the Eagles and Fighting Hawks finish tied, EWU would be co-champions and remain the No. 2 seed. A three-way tie for the title with Weber State at 13-5 would still give the No. 1 seed to UND, No. 2 to EWU and No. 3 to Weber.
In their wins last week, Eastern got another huge effort from graduate transfer Jacob Wiley. He recorded his eighth double-double of the season with a 20-point, 13-rebound night versus Weber State. Bogdan Bliznyuk led the Eagles versus the Wildcats with 25 points. Sir Washington added 16 points against Weber.
Against Idaho State on Senior Day, Wiley poured in 38 points on 13 of 16 shooting from the field and 12 of 14 from the line. He had 15 rebounds. It was his ninth double-double of the season, and he also added a pair of blocked shots. Bliznyuk had his sixth double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Felix Von Hofe had 14 versus the Bengals in his final Reese Court game.
With 20 victories, the Eagles hit a threshold that has occurred just twice before in Eastern's history in NCAA Division I. Since 1983-84, the only times that has occurred came in 1985-86 (20-8) and 2014-15 (26-9). This year's team is just one of five in the school's 34-year NCAA Division I history to have at least 18, including three-straight under Hayford.
Eastern closed the regular season with a 15-1 home record, tying the single season record of 15 set by the 1985-86 team. It was also accomplished two other times in EWU's NAIA era.
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